COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Lucia

The COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Lucia is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached Saint Lucia on 13 March 2020.[2] As of 13 August, there are a total of 25 confirmed cases, of which 25 have recovered and no deaths have occurred.[1][3]

COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Lucia
Map of Saint Lucia
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Saint Lucia
First outbreak	Wuhan, Hubei, China
Arrival date	13 March 2020 (5 months and 3 days)
Confirmed cases	25[1] (15 August)
Recovered	25[1](15 August)
Deaths	0[1]
Government website
covid19response.lc

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[4][5]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[6][7] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[8][6]

Timeline

COVID-19 cases in Saint Lucia  ()      Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases Mar Mar Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Last 15 days Last 15 days
Date			# of cases
2020-03-13		​	1(n.a.)
2020-03-14		​	2(+100%)
2020-03-15		​	2(=)
2020-03-16		​	2(=)
2020-03-17		​	2(=)
2020-03-18		​	2(=)
2020-03-19		​	2(=)
2020-03-20		​	2(=)
2020-03-21		​	2(=)
2020-03-22		​	2(=)
2020-03-23		​	3(+50%)
2020-03-24		​	3(=)
2020-03-25		​	3(=)
2020-03-26		​ ​	3(=)
2020-03-27		​ ​	3(=)
2020-03-28		​ ​	3(=)
2020-03-29		​ ​	9(+200%)
2020-03-30		​ ​	9(=)
2020-03-31		​ ​	13(+44%)
2020-04-01		​ ​	13(=)
2020-04-02		​ ​	13(=)
2020-04-03		​ ​	13(=)
2020-04-04		​ ​	14(+7.7%)
2020-04-05		​ ​	14(=)
2020-04-06		​ ​	14(=)
2020-04-07		​ ​	14(=)
2020-04-08		​ ​	14(=)
2020-04-09		​ ​	14(=)
2020-04-10		​ ​	15(+7.1%)
2020-04-11		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-12		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-13		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-14		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-15		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-16		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-17		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-18		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-19		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-20		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-21		​ ​	15(=)
2020-04-22		​	15(=)
2020-04-23		​	15(=)
2020-04-24		​	15(=)
2020-04-25		​	15(=)
2020-04-26		​	15(=)
2020-04-27		​	15(=)
2020-04-28		​ ​	17(+13%)
2020-04-29		​ ​	17(=)
2020-04-30		​ ​	17(=)
2020-05-01		​ ​	17(=)
2020-05-02		​ ​	17(=)
2020-05-03		​ ​	18(+5.9%)
2020-05-04		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-05		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-06		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-07		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-08		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-09		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-10		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-11		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-12		​ ​	18(=)
2020-05-13		​	18(=)
2020-05-14		​	18(=)
2020-05-15		​	18(=)
2020-05-16		​	18(=)
2020-05-17		​	18(=)
2020-05-18		​	18(=)
2020-05-19		​	18(=)
2020-05-20		​	18(=)
2020-05-21		​	18(=)
2020-05-22		​	18(=)
2020-05-23		​	18(=)
2020-05-24		​	18(=)
2020-05-25		​	18(=)
2020-05-26		​	18(=)
2020-05-27		​	18(=)
2020-05-28		​	18(=)
2020-05-29		​	18(=)
2020-05-30		​	18(=)
2020-05-31		​	18(=)
2020-06-01		​	18(=)
2020-06-02		​	18(=)
2020-06-03		​	18(=)
2020-06-04		​ ​	19(+5.6%)
2020-06-05		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-06		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-07		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-08		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-09		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-10		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-11		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-12		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-13		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-14		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-15		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-16		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-17		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-18		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-19		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-20		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-21		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-22		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-23		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-24		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-25		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-26		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-27		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-28		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-29		​ ​	19(=)
2020-06-30		​ ​	19(=)
2020-07-01		​ ​	19(=)
2020-07-02		​ ​	22(+16%)
2020-07-03		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-04		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-05		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-06		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-07		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-08		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-09		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-10		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-11		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-12		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-13		​ ​	22(=)
2020-07-14		​ ​	23(+4.5%)
2020-07-15		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-16		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-17		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-18		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-19		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-20		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-21		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-22		​ ​	23(=)
2020-07-23		​ ​	24(+4.3%)
2020-07-24		​ ​	24(=)
2020-07-25		​ ​	24(=)
2020-07-26		​ ​	24(=)
2020-07-27		​ ​	24(=)
2020-07-28		​ ​	24(=)
2020-07-29		​ ​	24(=)
2020-07-30		​ ​	25(+4.2%)
2020-07-31		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-01		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-02		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-03		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-04		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-05		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-06		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-07		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-08		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-09		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-10		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-11		​ ​	25(=)
2020-08-12		​	25(=)
2020-08-13		​	25(=)
2020-08-14		​	25(=)
2020-08-15		​	25(=)
Data sourced from official tracker.

March 2020

On 13 March 2020, the first case in Saint Lucia was confirmed.[2] The patient was a 63-year-old woman with a travel history from the United Kingdom.[9] The Department of Health and Wellness confirmed a second case on 14 March.[10] The patients were repatriated to the United Kingdom on the 24 and 25 March.[11]

On 20 March, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet announced that Saint Lucia would implement social distancing measures, including the suspension of nonessential commercial activity from 23 March through 5 April.[12] The government also imposed a 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. On 29 March, the Prime Minister extended the shutdown to 14 April and extended the curfew to 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.[13][14]

On 23 March, the Government of Saint Lucia declared a state of emergency and announced the closure of the country's airports to incoming passenger flights until 5 April.[15][16]

On 27 March, the Ministry of Health began local testing for COVID-19 and, on 29 March, it reported the first instance of local transmission among six new confirmed cases. The ministry also reported that 300 persons were under supervised quarantine.[17][18]

On 29 March, the government banned the sale of alcoholic beverages, as well as suspending all liquor licenses, and closing all bars.[19]

On 31 March, the Prime Minister announced a 24-hour curfew confining all persons to their place of residence from 5 a.m. 1 April to 5 a.m. 7 April.[20] At the time of the announcement, persons were already under curfew meaning they could not make any arrangements for the new curfew.[21]

April 2020

On 1 April 2020, the Prime Minister announced that mini-marts and bakeries would be open for a limited time to allow people to buy goods.[22] On 2 April, St. Lucians queued up in long lines outside the briefly opened shops, mostly ignoring the prime minister's calls to practice social distancing.[21]

On 5 April, the Prime Minister announced that St. Lucia would revert to a 10-hour 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew from 7 April through 13 April. Essential businesses would be allowed to operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., except during the Good Friday, Easter, and Easter Monday holidays.[23]

On 8 April, a social stabilization program was announced for people who had become unemployed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, or who were vulnerable, and an economic support package for businesses.[24]
Sarah Flood Beaubrun, Minister for External Affairs, announced that they were working with the United States and Canada to return Saint Lucians stranded abroad.[25]

On 12 April, the government extended the 10-hour 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and partial commercial shutdown through 26 April. The government added hardware and home supply stores to the list of businesses permitted to operate, to allow preparation for the drought and hurricane season.[26]

On 21 April, the first home nationals had been repatriated. The repatriants were eight employees of Norwegian Cruise Line who had been anchored on the coast of Barbados since 9 April.[27]

On 22 April, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George announced that all 15 of the country's confirmed cases had recovered, including those at high risk because of their age or preexisting conditions. All measures including the curfew would remain in effect, and Belmar-George warned against a resurgence in the future.[28] Prime Minister Chastanet was asked about lifting the alcohol restriction. Chastanet would look in it, but wanted to follow the advice by the Chief Medical Officer.[19] On 30 April, Chastenet announced that the alcohol ban will not be lifted.[29]
The Cabinet of Saint Lucia agreed to cut their salary by 75% due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of income from tourism. The government announced they would meet on 28 April to deal with the loss of revenue.[30]

On 24 April, the Ministry of Health announced: "Though this 100 percent recovery rate provides us with a milestone worth recognizing, we at the Ministry of Health continue to caution the public that any gains attained should not be understood as a reason to let down our guard or to throw caution to the wind." Between 21 and 24 April, 60 tests had been performed, all being negative.[31]

On 28 April, there were 17 confirmed cases, of which 15 had recovered. The two new cases were a 54-year mother who had been isolating since 4 March and her 20-year-old son.[32]

On 30 April, the World Bank announced it would provide US$10.5 million to Saint Lucia for their COVID-19 response.[33]

May 2020

On 2 May 2020, the Saint Lucia Diaspora Affairs Unit reported that 29 Saint Lucians abroad had died from COVID-19, with 22 in the United States, six in the United Kingdom, and one in Switzerland.[34]

On 8 May, the government partially lifted the ban on the sale of alcohol, allowing it in stores.[35]

On 18 May, the Ministry of Commerce permitted businesses to resume full operations during normal business hours. Curfew hours were changed as well to 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Schools and cinemas remained closed and mass crowd events were still prohibited.[36]

On 19 May, Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee announced a phased reopening of Saint Lucia's tourism industry, starting with the reopening of borders to international flights starting 4 June 2020.[37]

June 2020

On 5 June 2020, a 19th case was announced, a 33-year-old female cruise worker that was the among people repatriated.[38]

On 12 June, it was announced that starting 15 June, as part of government's phased re-opening, the curfew would be adjusted from beginning at 9 pm to beginning at 12 am through 5 am; social gatherings would be allowed and those with licenses would be allowed to sell liquor.[39]

July 2020

On 2 July 2020, the government announced new travel protocols for incoming travelers. Travelers would be required to obtain a negative PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test within seven days of travel unless they are arriving from countries in a travel bubble designated by the Government of Saint Lucia.

The travel bubble included Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Anguilla, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.[40]

On 6 July, the Prime Minister announced that the nightly curfew will be lifted on 10 July. He also announced the reopening of cinemas, early childhood development centers, and sporting events, subject to protocols.[41]

On 22 July a 24th case was announced, a 59 year old female who had returned to St Lucia on the 10th of July[42]. On 30 July a 25th case was announced, that of a 86 year old male[43]. At the time 3 Covid patients remained hospitalized.

August 2020

On 11 August, the Ministry of Health and Wellness announced the country had achieved a 100 percent recovery rate from COVID-19, with no new cases reported from the testing of 99 individuals. A total of 4,373 tests have taken.[44]

Preventive measures

• All schools are closed.[45]
• Non-essential businesses were closed from 23 March through 17 May.[12][36]
• Curfew between 23:00 and 05:00.[13] Changed to 19:00 to 05:00 on 5 April and changed to 21:00 to 05:00 on 18 May.[23][36]
• Bars are closed, and restaurants are limited to take-out and drive-through service only. Alcohol sales were prohibited from 29 March until 8 May.[15][19][35]
• Air and sea ports were closed from 23 March through 3 June, except for cargo shipments and outgoing flights to repatriate foreign nationals.[46][15][37]
• Limited reopening of minimarts and bakeries.[22] Home supplies and hardware stores reopened.[26] Construction will be allowed under conditions, reopening of fabric stores.[47]

Statistics

Chronology of the number of active cases

See also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Martinique
• COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Caribbean Public Health Agency
• COVID-19 pandemic in North America
• COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory

References

1. "SAINT LUCIA'S COVID-19 DASHBOARD". Saint Lucia's COVID-19 Dashboard. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
2. "UK National Is Saint Lucia's First Coronavirus Case". St. Lucia Times. 11 March 2020.
3. "Update on Saint Lucia's #25 COVID-19 case" (Press release). Ministry of Health and Wellness. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
4. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
5. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
6. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
7. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
8. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
9. "St. Lucia confirms its first COVID-19 case: woman, 63, with UK travel history". St. Lucia News Online. 11 March 2020.
10. "BREAKING NEWS: Saint Lucia confirms its second COVID-19 case" (Press release). Department of Health and Wellness. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
11. "Saint Lucia's only coronavirus patient "has recovered"; two other patients repatriated" (Press release). Ministry of Health and Wellness. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
12. "St Lucia closing non-essential commercial services for 2 weeks". Loop News. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
13. "Prime Minister extends quarantine, increases curfew" (Press release). Government Information Service. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
14. Gaillard, Sharefil (29 March 2020). "St Lucia extends curfew due to uncooperative public; COVID-19 spread". Loop News. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
15. "BREAKING NEWS: Saint Lucia declares state of emergency". St. Lucia News Online. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
16. "BREAKING NEWS: St. Lucia airports closed to arriving passengers" (Press release). Office of the Prime Minister. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
17. "Saint Lucia's 4th COVID-19 victim 'doing well'; over 300 in quarantine" (Press release). Ministry of Health and Wellness. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
18. "Saint Lucia now experiencing local transmission of COVID-19" (Press release). Ministry of Health. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
19. "Lifting of COVID-19 liquor ban in St Lucia being considered". Loopnews Barbados. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
20. "BREAKING NEWS: Saint Lucia gov't implements 24-hour curfew". St. Lucia News Online. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
21. Stuart, Jonathan (2 April 2020). "St Lucians again fail at social distancing during curfew shopping". Loop News. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
22. "PM: Mini marts, bakeries open April 2 and 6; minimal farming allowed". Loop News. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
23. Stuart, Jonathan (5 April 2020). "PM announces no shopping Monday; 10-hour curfew begins Tuesday". Loop News. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
24. "Prime Minister Honourable Allen M. Chastanet Address to Nation on the Government of Saint Lucia's Response to COVID-19 Impact: Social Stabilization Programme (Phase 1) 8th April, 2020". RCI St Lucia. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
25. "Statement by Honourable Sarah Flood Beaubrun, Minister with responsibility for External Affairs, on Status of Nationals Abroad – North America". RCI St Lucia. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
26. Andrews, Merrick (12 April 2020). "Chastanet: 10-hour curfew extended to April 26; hardware stores, home suppliers to open". St. Lucia News Online. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
27. "BREAKING NEWS: Saint Lucia has started to bring home nationals; 8 arrived today!". St Lucia News Online. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
28. "All of St Lucia's COVID-19 patients have now recovered". Loop News. 22 April 2020.
29. "PM explains why 'caring and compassionate' alcohol ban will continue". Loop News St Lucia. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
30. "St. Lucia Cabinet agrees to 75 per cent salary cut in face of economic crisis". The Daily Herald.sx. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
31. "St Lucia will likely record new COVID-19 cases - Health Ministry". Loop News. 24 April 2020.
32. "BREAKING NEWS: Saint Lucia records two new cases of COVID-19" (Press release). Saint Lucia News Online. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
33. "World Bank provides US$10.5 million to Saint Lucia for COVID-19 response". St. Lucia News Online. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
34. "Twenty-nine St Lucians living abroad have died from COVID-19". Loop St Lucia. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
35. Kingsley Emanuel (8 May 2020). "Long lines for liquor in the south as sales once again allowed". Loop News. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
36. "Recommencement Of Business Operations As of May 18, 2020" (Press release). Ministry of Commerce. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
37. Dowrich-Phillips, Laura (19 May 2020). "Saint Lucia opening borders to US visitors as tourism plan announced". Loop News. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
38. "Repatriated St Lucia cruise ship worker has COVID-19 | CBR". Caribbean Business Report. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
39. "Repatriated St Lucia cruise ship worker has COVID-19 | CBR". Loop St Lucia. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
40. "St Lucia to require negative COVID test within 7 days of traveling". Loop St Lucia. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
41. Stuart, Jonathan (6 July 2020). "PM announces curfew to end; sports, cinemas to return". Loop News. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
42. "Saint Lucia records new case of COVID-19". www.loopslu.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
43. www.nationnews.com https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/246973/st-lucia-records-25th-covid-19. Retrieved 11 August 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
44. Reporter, WIC News (13 August 2020). "St Lucia returns to 100% COVID-19 recovery rate". WIC News. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
45. "Educational Institutions Closed from Monday 16th, 2020". RCI St Lucia. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
46. "Saint Lucia Closes Borders to All Incoming Travellers". RCI St Lucia. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
47. "THE ECONOMY AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC". Saint Lucia Government via Youtube. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

External links

• Official site